Ukrainian forces grappled with a chaotic and costly retreat from the strategic city of Avdiivka this weekend, raising concerns over lost lives, plummeting morale, and the potential impact on the war's trajectory.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially painted a sanitized picture of the withdrawal, claiming it minimized casualties and preserved valuable troops, conflicting narratives paint a grimmer picture.
The 110th Brigade, one unit involved in the retreat, reported in a Facebook post that at least six wounded troops were left behind enemy lines during the chaotic withdrawal and later allegedly executed by Russian forces. Further details remain unclear, with some members reporting they were unaware of the full extent of casualties. This incident, along with the potential for more unaccounted-for soldiers, casts a dark shadow on the operation.
Soldiers who participated in the retreat, speaking anonymously, painted a picture of confusion and disorganization. They described being ordered to hold positions already lost or severely damaged, facing overwhelming Russian firepower, and lacking sufficient air defense capabilities. Exhaustion further hampered their ability to effectively resist the advance. These accounts suggest a significant breakdown in communication and operational planning leading to a retreat more akin to a desperate scramble rather than a strategic maneuver.
While both Ukrainian and Russian sources claim heavy losses, verifying exact numbers remains challenging. Nevertheless, the battle undoubtedly took a significant toll on both sides.
Dmytro Kukharchuk, commander of the 2nd Battalion of Ukraine's 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, acknowledged the intense fighting and his unit's success in evacuating their wounded while noting the possibility of missing information regarding the fate of other troops.
Serhiy, a platoon commander from the 53rd Brigade, described the retreat as "planned very badly" and acknowledged the psychological impact on his troops, who experienced exhaustion, shock, and a sense of being overwhelmed.
A pro-Kremlin blogger, Andrei Morozov, from Russia's 4th Motorized Rifle Brigade, allegedly committed suicide after exposing the potentially devastating cost of the Avdiivka battle for Russian forces. Morozov's post, before being deleted, claimed 16,000 Russian troops and 300 armored vehicles lost in the city since October, praising Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrsky for his skillful retreat and estimating Ukrainian losses at 5,000-7,000. These conflicting narratives highlight the difficulty in obtaining accurate information in the fog of war.
While the immediate battle for Avdiivka has been lost, the broader implications for the war remain to be seen. Ukrainian forces face the arduous task of rebuilding morale and bolstering their defenses in the face of potential renewed Russian offensives. Additionally, the transparency of information and the ability to address concerns within the ranks will be crucial in maintaining Ukrainian resolve.
